UK-based manufacturer Lucy Switchgear will open an Abu Dhabi office to support the Emirate's power sector. The company already has offices and manufacturing facilities in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Luc

UK-based manufacturer Lucy Switchgear will open an Abu Dhabi office to support the Emirate's power sector. The company already has offices and manufacturing facilities in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

Lucy Switchgear is participating in this week's Power-Gen Middle East exhibition, which takes place from October 13-15, 2003 at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibitions Centre.

Economic development, increasing industrial capacity and fast population growth is driving demand for electricity in the Arabian Gulf states. These countries are expected to require an additional 100 gigawatts of power generation capacity before the year 2020 at a cost of $150 billion, according to the World Energy Council. Power requirements for the city of Abu Dhabi alone are expected to reach 4,500 MW by the year 2010, according to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Electricity and Water.

Abu Dhabi's ambitious privatization plan for the power sector was kicked off in 1998 with the establishment of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). Some 11 companies were then formed under ADWEA to operate on a commercial basis and to encourage private sector investment. — (menareport.com)